Enteritis

Enteritis (plural: enteritides) refers to inflammation of the small bowel. When associated with inflammation of the stomach, the term gastroenteritis is used which is usually caused by infection.

Pathology

Etiology

• infection
  • infective enteritis
• eosinophilic enteritis
• ischemia
• inflammatory bowel disease
• radiation
  • ​radiation enteritis
• lymphoma
• intramural hemorrhage
• shocked bowel
• vasculitides
• portal hypertension
• hypoproteinemia
• sprue
• scleroderma
• systemic lupus erythematosus: lupus enteritis
• Whipple disease
• amyloidosis
• drugs
  • chemotherapy-induced

Radiographic features

The main feature of enteritis is small bowel wall thickening. Low density submucosal edema can usually be differentiated from higher density mural hemorrhage or infiltration. Dilatation or strictures may be present, the latter if chronic.

Differential diagnosis

For bowel wall thickening, consider non-inflammatory causes such as:

• intestinal lymphangiectasia